Chris Baird aiming for Premier League return

Chris Boden

New signing Chris Baird feels he is good enough for a return to the Premier League.

And he hasn’t ruled out playing there with Burnley, should they be promoted.

The 32-year-old signed on Thursday as a free agent after leaving Reading in January, after a career that has seen him play in the FA Cup Final with Southampton, and the Europa League Final with Fulham.

Asked if he feels he can still perform at the top level, Baird, who made his debut in the 3-0 win at Charlton on Saturday, said: “I think so, yes.

“I want another shot at it, that’s for sure.

“Whether it’s here or somewhere else, we’ll see what happens.

“I don’t want to jinx things and say they’re already there.

“We’re just taking each game as it comes, we’ll see.”

Baird left Fulham in the summer after six years at Craven Cottage, but, after training with QPR, signed a short-term deal with Reading in late September.

He admitted the summer was a testing time as he searched for a new club: “At the start of the season I was just training by myself, I wasn’t even at Reading at the time.

“They got a few injuries and I went there, got a few games and then got injured and ended up in the same situation.

“It was really frustrating, it’s so hard training by yourself, at home on the treadmill trying to keep my fitness up as best I could.

“It’s just not the same as it is with a group, training properly. When Reading came along I took that chance. I got injured at the wrong time, the deal finished and then, although I was training with Reading, I was in the same situation.

“When Burnley came knocking, it was no option.”

And the Northern Ireland international can already see why Burnley are having the success they have had so far this season: “You can see the work-rate and the confidence in the players as well.

“Confidence is massive in the game, and you can just see everyone is working for each other, doing what they have to do, putting in really good performances and getting the right results.

“They keep their shape well, there’s always a threat up front. I know Ingsy’s injured at the minute, but there are goals everywhere in the team and it was a great win for us at Charlton.”